Wellness Smartwatches Fitness Trackers Garmin Cirqa wishlist: 3 ways Garmin’s rumored screen-free tracker can beat the Fitbit Air Opinion By Dan Bracaglia Published 9 July 2026 I just reviewed the Fitbit Air, and I have some advice for Garmin When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works . (Image credit: Tom’s Guide) Jump To: 1. Onboard GPS 2. Reliable auto-workout detect 3. Two weeks of battery Copy link Facebook X Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Rumors of a screen-free Garmin fitness tracker, potentially called the “Cirqa,” have reached a fever pitch. Plus, the fact that Garmin has officially trademarked, ”Cirqa” in several markets only adds to the anticipation for what could very well be the biggest challenger to the Fitbit Air in 2026. Screen-free fitness trackers are clearly having a moment. Google just debuted its $99 Fitbit Air band to positive reviews, including from yours truly, and Oura just dropped a thinner, comfier flagship in the Oura Ring 5 . Of course, you also have the Whoop 5.0 , Polar Loop , and Amazfit Helio Strap . So, what does Garmin need to do with the rumored Cirqa to set it apart from the competition? I have three big ideas. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: 1. Onboard GPS (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom’s Guide) In 2026, if you want to onboard GPS in your fitness-tracking wearable, you need to either opt for one of the best smartwatches or one of the best fitness trackers , like the Fitbit Charge 6 . As of writing, there aren’t any smart rings or screen-free trackers with onboard GPS. The advantage, of course, of a built-in GPS antenna is the ability to track an outdoor workout, like a walk, run, hike, bike ride, etc., without the need to carry a paired smartphone. Even the Oura Ring 5 and Fitbit Air piggyback off your phone’s location data when logging an outdoor exercise. You may like Garmin’s screenless fitness tracker just leaked and, if this price is accurate, the Fitbit Air won’t be worried Garmin’s screen-less Whoop competitor could cost five times as much as the Fitbit Air Finally, a new Fitbit? Rumors of Google’s screenless ‘Fitbit Air’ hint at a spring launch 2. Wide-ranging, reliable auto-workout detection (Image credit: Future) One of my biggest complaints about the Fitbit Air is the auto workout detection feature. It only supports a very small selection of workout types, and you need to be doing one of those supported exercises for a minimum of 15-20 minutes for the feature to kick in. The best Garmin watches already support loads of workout types; however, like the Fitbit Air, auto-detect is limited to roughly five common exercises, like walks, runs, and swims. Expanding that list and ensuring detection works even after a short duration would give the rumored Garmin Cirqa a major advantage over the Fitbit Air. Tom’s Guide: Direct to Your Inbox Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Perhaps Garmin should ask Oura for advice on how to best log a range of exercise types without any user input; the latest generation Oura Ring autodetects 40 different workout types. 3. Two weeks or more of battery (Image credit: Future) Finally, the rumored Garmin Cirqa could set itself apart from the Fitbit Air by cruising well beyond the week-long battery barrier. In my testing, the Fitbit Air can easily last up to seven days per charge. However, that’s nothing compared to the Whoop 5.0, which is good for up to two weeks. If Garmin wants the Cirqa to be considered a premium wearable, as the rumored price suggests it might be, then matching or surpassing
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